Donald trump uk state visit

The pound recovered ground on Jan 21 after British Prime Minister Theresa May said she plans to return to Brussels to discuss changes to the Brexit deal. (AFP/PAUL ELLIS) The London stock market ended the day with the thinnest of gains, but still outperformed its European peers which all closed lower. Earlier, Asian indices closed higher. US markets were closed for a bank holiday, making for more modest trading volumes than usual in the rest of the world. There was mixed news out of China, with official data showing the country's economic growth at its slowest pace in 28 years offsetting a report that the country has offered to eliminate its massive trade surplus with the United States - easing trade war tensions between the world's two biggest economies. EXTENSION REQUEST 'MOST LIKELY' Britain, meanwhile, is on course to crash out of the European Union on Mar 29 without a deal unless UK MPs can force a delay or come up with an alternative plan that Brussels is also happy with. … [Read more...] about British pound recovers as May outlines Brexit “Plan B”

SINGAPORE: Britain can still punch above its weight globally even after it exits the European Union (EU), Foreign Secretary Jeremy Hunt said on Wednesday (Jan 2) ahead of a crucial parliamentary vote at home. Hunt said his country would remain an influential global player independent of the EU. (Photo: AFP/ROSLAN RAHMAN) Although Britain is neither a superpower nor in possession of an empire, the country still has the military might, economic muscle and diplomatic connections to play a major role in world affairs, Hunt said in Singapore. Britons in a 2016 referendum voted to leave the EU, a political and economic partnership that currently has 28 members, triggering months of tortuous negotiations that have left the country bitterly divided. Parliament is due to debate Britain's withdrawal from the EU - called Brexit - next week ahead of a key vote the following week, as the country prepares to leave the bloc on March 29. Amid doubts over whether the deal will have enough … [Read more...] about Britain can punch above its weight even after Brexit: Foreign Secretary

US President Donald Trump said that French President Emmanuel Macron's suggestion for a joint European army is "very insulting" and "perhaps Europe should first pay its fair share of NATO" (Photo: AFP/NICHOLAS KAMM) No sooner had Trump touched down in Paris for a weekend of commemorations to mark the end of World War 1, than he fired off a tweet castigating his host over proposals to endow the EU with its own, joint army. "President Macron of France has just suggested that Europe build its own military in order to protect itself from the US, China and Russia," the US president tweeted, referring to remarks made by Macron three days earlier. "Very insulting, but perhaps Europe should first pay its fair share of NATO, which the US subsidizes greatly!," he added. Trump, who is visiting France with his wife Melania for the second time since becoming president, was referring to a call made by Macron in an interview Tuesday for a "real European army." Macron, an ardent advocate of closer … [Read more...] about Trump in Paris slams Macron’s ‘insulting’ EU army proposals

Donald Trump told The Sun Theresa May's plan for post-Brexit ties with the EU would "probably kill" the prospects for a trade deal with the US AFP/WILL OLIVER In a series of extraordinary broadsides, Trump told Friday's edition of The Sun that May's plan for post-Brexit ties with the EU would "probably kill" the prospects for a trade deal with the US. Trump also said former foreign minister Boris Johnson, who resigned this week in protest over the plan, would make "a great prime minister". He said London mayor Sadiq Khan, who has allowed protesters to raise a giant diaper-clan balloon mocking the US president next to parliament on Friday, was doing "a terrible job" on crime. The comments will plunge the transatlantic "special relationship" to new lows, making for extremely awkward talks with May when the two meet at her country retreat of Chequers later on Friday. As he began a four-day visit to Britain on Thursday, Trump, a major supporter of Brexit, told The Sun that he had … [Read more...] about Trump blasts May’s Brexit strategy on UK visit

India only abides by sanctions imposed by the United Nations and not those imposed by any other country, such as ones announced by the United States against Iran, India’s foreign minister said on Monday ahead of a meeting with his Iranian counterpart in New Delhi. India’s foreign minister Sushma Swaraj at the meeting with his Iranian counterpart Mohammad Javad Zarif - Photo: anninhthudo US President Donald Trump this month withdrew the United States from the Iran nuclear deal and ordered the re-imposition of US sanctions against Iran that were suspended under the 2015 accord, Reuters reported. “India follows only UN sanctions, and not unilateral sanctions by any country,” Sushma Swaraj said at a news conference in response to a question on India’s response to the US decision. India and Iran have long-standing political and economic ties, with Iran being one of India’s top oil suppliers. Iran’s top diplomat Foreign Minister Mohammad … [Read more...] about Indian FM: New Delhi will not follow US sanctions on Iran

US President Donald Trump will make a long-awaited visit to Britain on Jul 13, Downing Street announced on Thursday (Apr 26), his first since taking power in January last year and likely to draw large protests. British Prime Minister Theresa May (left) will welcome US President Donald Trump to the UK for a working visit in July. (AFP/Brendan Smialowski) The visit had been repeatedly delayed amid a series of diplomatic spats and fears that it could be overshadowed by opponents' pledges to swamp the streets of London to decry Trump. "The President of the United States will visit the UK on 13 July," Prime Minister Theresa May's spokesman said in a statement, adding Trump would hold bilateral talks with the British leader. May controversially offered Trump a state visit - which would involve meeting Queen Elizabeth II at Buckingham Palace - when she was the first foreign leader to visit him shortly after entering the White House. The invitation provoked uproar in Britain, … [Read more...] about Big protests expected as Trump’s UK visit in July confirmed

No door for return of RON92 petrol After RON92 petrol was replaced by E5 bio-fuel for about three months, several enterprises said that the consumption of E5 was lower than that of RON92 and petitioned the authorities to resume the use of RON92. However, experts and businesses have asserted that the use RON92 petrol should not be resumed. Recently, Ho Chi Minh City One Member Limited Liability Oil and Gas Company (Saigon Petro) sent an official document to the Ministry of Industry and Trade and Ministry of Finance, saying that the consumption of E5 bio-fuel in the first two months of 2018 accounted for a very low proportion of the total petrol consumption of Saigon Petro, at over 30% of total petrol consumption, while the consumption of RON92 made up 65% of the total consumption. In addition, the company said that many vehicles that require the petrol standards of E5 or RON92 have to switch to using RON95, with a higher price, which is a waste. The company also recommended the … [Read more...] about BUSINESS IN BRIEF 1/4

Moscow on Tuesday denied it was behind the poisoning of a former double agent in Britain as a midnight deadline loomed to explain how a suspected Russian-made nerve agent was used in the attack. "Russia is not guilty," said Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov of the attack on Sergei Skripal and his daughter in an English city on March 4. The United States, NATO and the European Union have all backed Britain in the deepening diplomatic crisis. Lavrov said Russia was "ready to cooperate", but complained Britain had rejected its requests for "access" to the nerve agent samples. British Prime Minister Theresa May told parliament it was "highly likely" Russia was behind the poisoning, giving Moscow until the end of Tuesday to respond. In a cabinet meeting on Tuesday, she called the attack "reckless, indiscriminate and despicable", adding she would inform MPs of her response on Wednesday. Ahead of the announcement, Britain's National Security Council will meet "to discuss the response from … [Read more...] about Russia says ‘not guilty’ of ex-spy poisoning as UK deadline looms

LONDON -- Australia said on Monday it would be open to the idea of Britain joining the Trans-Pacific Partnership regional trade group after it leaves the European Union. But Julie Bishop, visiting Britain as Prime Minister Theresa May tries to unite her cabinet on what they want from Brexit, also said Australia would only be able to strike a bilateral trade deal with Britain if London sticks to its plan to leave the EU’s customs union. “We would of course welcome interest from an economy the size of Britain‘s,” she said in response to a question about Britain joining the TPP after delivering a speech at the Commonwealth Bank of Australia in London’s financial center. British trade minister Liam Fox said earlier this year that joining the Trans-Pacific Partnership was an option for the country after Brexit. The 11 TPP countries - which include Japan, Canada and Mexico as well as Australia - are due to sign their agreement in March. U.S. President Donald … [Read more...] about Australia says open to UK joining Pacific trade group after Brexit